Michael P. Violante

VIOLANTE Michael P. Violante, age 49, of Ridgefield, husband of Melinda (Bowen ) Violante, died unexpectedly on Wednesday morning, March 3, 2004, at Danbury Hospital, after being stricken ill at home. Mr. Violante was born in Bridgeport, July 19, 1954, a son of Wanda (Olbrys) of Milford, and the late Michael P. Violante Sr. He grew up in Bridgeport and graduated from the New York Institute of Technology. An architect, Mr. Violante was a staff architect with Duty Free International, specializing in the design of retail stores at airports around the world. He later established his own architectural firm, ARC International Architects, and continued to design for Duty Free and recently completed the Duty Free Shop at the new Philadelphia International Airport. He had received many professional awards, including one from the CT Historical Association for his redesign and renovation of the Westport Carriage House. He was a resident of Ridgefield for the past 14 years. He was active in town government, served as president of the Mamanasco Lake Improvement Fund. He enjoyed wildlake and had frequently contributed observations on birds at Lake Mamanasco to The Ridgefield Press for publication in their Birdnotes column. Mr. Violante was a member of the Republican Town Committee and served as a former member of the town's East Ridge Middle School Building Committee. In addition to his wife and mother, he is survived by a brother, Joseph Violante of Croton-on-the-Hudson, N.Y.; two sisters, Marie Rambush of Milford, and Donna Tamayo of Manchester; and nine nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his devoted contant companion, Einstein, a black Laborador Retriever. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. in St. Mary's Church, Ridgefield. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. Friends will be received in the Kane Funeral Home, 25 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. Memorial donations to ROAR (Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue), P.O. Box 43, or to the Mamanasco Lake Improvement Fund, c/o Anthony Yonda, 41 Craigmoor Road South, both of Ridgefield, CT 06877 would be appreciated.